Overshoes in the test: How to keep your feet dry while cycling

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Cycling in the rain: At best, shoes and feet stay dry with overshoes (symbolic image)

Photo: Stuart Gleave/Getty Images

It doesn't even have to rain. After a few minutes of cycling on wet roads or paths full of puddles, the shoes are wet and dirty. Sometimes even the feet. No one wants to cycle on for hours – or start their working day. A simple solution: shoe covers. If you slip them over your shoes before riding, they ideally stay dry and clean. At low temperatures, they can also keep your feet warm.

Overshoes are available in different designs: tight-fitting shoe covers for cyclists and universally applicable rain shoe covers, which are also available with a warming lining for the winter. Simple toe caps are also offered on the market, but they only provide partial protection. That's why we didn't test such models.

All of the overshoes we tested are open at the sole so that cleats fit through. So you can also ride with clipless pedals if you want. All models have a bridge on the sole so that the overshoes do not ride up. At the toe of the foot, the heel and sometimes also at the edges, however, the overshoes reach under the sole. There is a plus point in our test if the material is reinforced there.

Whether overshoes are easy to put on depends on the design. If they can be opened completely at the back, it is the easiest. You put it on the front of the shoe, adjust everything and close it from the heel up to the calf. Such models, as a rule, have Velcro fasteners.

If the overshoes can't be opened completely, it becomes a little more difficult. There are two ways to achieve your goal: If the models are elastic enough, you slip them over the front of the shoe. Or you can put on the overshoe in front of the actual shoe and roll it down from above. However, this usually only works with models whose bridge can be opened at the sole.

However, it is better not to blindly rely on the manufacturer's recommendation when choosing a size. In our experience, overshoes are almost always too tight. Above all, it never seems that large soles of winter shoes, hiking boots and even some mountain bike shoes are taken into account. Often, you ride well with overshoes that are one or two sizes larger than recommended.

Gorewear Gore-Tex Shoe Covers

As the name suggests, Gorewear's overshoes are made of the manufacturer's proven Gore-Tex material. It is lightweight, waterproof and windproof. In addition, the membrane can dissipate body moisture.

The Gorewear overshoes are completely open at the back and are closed at the back with a Velcro fastener. On the sole, the overshoes are open and connected with a fixed bridge. So they can be easily pulled over the shoe from the front. This works with everyday shoes and cycling shoes with a click system. The part of the overshoe that ends at the sole is reinforced with additional material.

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The gorewear model is easy to put on, dense and breathable

Photo: Markus Linden

The rather generous cut ensures that the overshoes can be quickly slipped on. However, they are not particularly aerodynamic. If you pedal faster, you can make the model flutter a bit.

The test shows that your feet stay dry on a longer ride in the rain. Water also does not penetrate at the end of the sole. The windshield is also effective. However, this only prevents the feet from cooling down in the airstream. The thin material cannot heat. At 98 grams (size L), the overshoes are very light. In addition to the signal color we tested, the overshoes are also available in black.

What you like: The overshoes keep you dry, are easy to slip on and fit in any pocket.

The less: They don't fit tightly and tend to flutter a bit when driving fast.

For whom the Gorewear Gore-Tex overshoes are suitable: especially for commuters with street shoes. Due to the small pack size, they are also good companions on bike tours.

AGU Winter Rain Cycling Boots Commuter

AGU's overshoes are lined with fleece on the inside. In a way, this makes them winter-proof. You might not expect too much warmth, but at single-digit plus temperatures, the model keeps you sufficiently warm.

However, the AGU shoe can cause problems: the rear zipper can only be opened just above the heel. Part of it will remain closed. The bridge also cannot be opened. The overshoe must therefore be slipped over the entire sole from the front. There are hardly any problems with road bike and gravel bike shoes, not even with sneakers for the office. However, in winter shoes with strong soles, size L no longer fits over them. For winter shoes in shoe size 42, we had to use the XL model of shoe covers (intended for shoe size 45–46). Good thing we ordered both sizes. So choose at least one size larger than AGU indicates in the description.

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The AGU overshoe fits well, but does not open at the back of the sole

Photo: Markus Linden

If they fit, then they sit nicely on the shoe. The reinforced edges at the bottom are a bit narrow and may still have to be pulled under the sole by hand. Then the overshoes are definitely waterproof, even in heavy rain. Both the seams on the overshoe and the zipper at the back are sealed. There were no problems when clicking into cleats. Given the lining, the AGU shoe covers are light: they weigh 119 grams in size L.

What you like: They keep you warm, fit well on the shoe and are well sealed.

The less: They are difficult to adapt to different shoes. In any case, putting them on is more tedious than with overshoes that can be opened completely at the back.

For whom the AGU Winter Rain Cycling Boots Commuter is suitable: for commuters who value low weight, but appreciate thermal insulation.

GripGrab Dryfoot Waterproof 2

The manufacturer GripGrab is well-known among cyclists, but also makes shoe covers for everyday and commuting use. We ordered the high Dryfoot Waterproof 2, which also offer splash protection up to about half of the lower leg.

Similar to the Gorewear model, the overshoes are open at the back and can therefore be slipped over the shoes from the front. At the back, they are closed with Velcro. However, the closure is more on the side and wide – this allows some leeway to attach it snugly to each calf. Additional straps (also Velcro) ensure that the overshoe fits securely in any case.

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The GripGrab shoe cover is made of strong material and is easy to put on

Photo: Markus Linden

The material is stronger than Gorewear. It warms a little more – but it's not lined. In winter, warm shoes should be worn underneath. In case of doubt, we would therefore rather order one size larger than indicated. If you're only supposed to wear loafers, then the size specification from GripGrab fits.

The overshoes are reinforced at the toe and at the bridge, which is an elastic band. The edges are not reinforced – but they don't fit under the sole either. In practice, it doesn't matter. Your feet will still stay dry.

The strong material has its weight: the overshoes weigh 175 grams in size L.

What you like: The material looks high-quality, it protects well and the overshoes are easy to put on.

The less: The overshoes are a bit heavy. And for winter shoes, you need a larger model.

For whom the GripGrab Dryfoot Waterproof 2 are suitable: for all those who want to slip high and strong protectors over their shoes as easily as possible. So mainly for everyday cyclists and commuters.

Endura Freezing Point Overshoe II

The overshoe from Endura is not for everyday cyclists. It can be opened at the back, but the heel and bridge are tightly closed. They only fit over shoes with small soles. In fact, we could only put them on over road bike shoes – even with mountain and gravel bike shoes, the material got stuck to the soles. The Endura overshoe is made of very flexible, coated neoprene material. Unlike many comparable sports models, we were able to put on the overshoes without having to take off the road bike shoe.

The material fits snugly to the shoe, nothing flutters, and the aerodynamics are not disturbed. There is no neoprene in the area on the sole, but a slightly stretchy, multi-reinforced aramid fabric. It reaches up to the cleats, so that no splashing water gets on the shoes from below.

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Endura: Chic, fitted and warm. But only suitable for road cyclists.

Photo: Markus Linden

The neoprene is reinforced with fleece on the inside, the overshoes protect quite well against the cold. When riding around eight degrees Celsius, the feet stayed nice and warm in normal road bike shoes. However, ventilation falls by the wayside: neoprene not only does not let water in, but also does not let air out. The model is not well suited for warm weather, as the name suggests. And neoprene is not light: the pair weighs 225 grams in size L.

What you like: The overshoes fit very well, are warm and tight. Aerodynamically, they are an asset, not a brake.

The less: The overshoes only fit on road bike shoes. You can sweat underneath.

For whom the Endura Freezing Point Overshoe II is suitable: actually only for road cyclists. But it's perfect for them.

Vaude Capital Plus

Like the models from Gorewear and GribGrab, the Capital Plus by Vaude is open at the back throughout. So it can be pushed over all kinds of shoes. Its bridge is made of stretch material, it is closed at the back with Velcro. With a drawstring on the instep and a Velcro pull halfway up the calf, the overshoes can be adjusted. The advantage: Whether you wear low shoes or winter shoes underneath, the overshoe always fits reasonably tight and does not flutter.

Vaude chooses a windproof and waterproof membrane for the outer material, which is supposed to be breathable. Vaude states that the overshoe is manufactured in an environmentally friendly way and consists partly of old tires. The model is lightly padded and has smooth fabric on the inside, so it glides easily over the shoes.

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The Vaude overshoe is adjustable on the instep and above the ankle

Photo: Markus Linden

The Velcro closure at the back is quite wide, so you can adjust it to different shoe sizes. But what applies to many overshoes is especially true for the Vaude shoe: it is basically too small. Calculate about one or two sizes larger than Vaude specifies if you want to wear winter/hiking boots or sports shoes with larger soles underneath.

Our model for shoe sizes 41 to 43 was actually already too tight for size 42 shoes. In the right size, the Vaude overshoes fit well on the foot, are windproof and waterproof and also keep you warm. As a couple, they weigh 180 grams.

What you like: The overshoes can be flexibly adapted to different shoes, fit well and also warm.

The less: The overshoes run small. They are not reinforced in the area under the sole.

For whom the Vaude Capital Plus are suitable: They are ideal for commuters and also for cycling in cooler temperatures.

POC Thermal Bootie

The thermal booties from the Swedish manufacturer POC are made of a thin stretch material - and contrary to what the name suggests, they are not lined. Nevertheless, they keep the feet reasonably warm, which also has to do with the roughened material on the inside.

The overshoes are designed for road cyclists and fit well over road bike shoes. Similar to the AGU and Endura overshoes, they cannot be fully opened at the back of the heel. So they have to be pulled over the shoe from the front. This is quite easy due to the stretch properties.

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The overshoe from POC is actually for road bike shoes, but also fits over sneakers

Photo: Markus Linden

Then the zipper is only pulled up. POC has only partially protected the zipper on the inside with a fabric band. If the socks are very short, the zipper can chafe at the calf. The material is reinforced at the tip of the foot and at the bottom of the sole. A waistband provides the closure at the calf.

We didn't just wear the thermal booties over road bike shoes, but also over sneakers and gravel bike shoes. As long as the sole is not too thick, they fit very well. But not about winter shoes.

The POC shoe covers are water-repellent and have kept our feet dry and warm. However, it was also about ten degrees Celsius during the test drive.

In addition to the eye-catching orange we tested, POC also offers the Themal Bootie in black. As a pair in size L, they weigh only 99 grams.

What you like: The overshoe is light, small and fits well on the foot. And it keeps you dry.

The less: It only fits on slim shoes and is not lined.

For whom the Thermal Bootie is suitable: especially for road bike use. But it can also protect cyclists' feet in low shoes.

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